"Ning" is a company that provides easy-to-use social networks that allow for communications and sharing between members of any given community. They take seconds to set up, and require nearly no technological expertise to use.
To set up a Ning site, go to Ning.com. Setting up the site requires you to enter a few pieces of information (your name, your e-mail address, and a name for your site) and you're ready to go.
To add student members to the site, you will need their e-mail addresses. You can do this yourself or have the students go to the Ning (you'll be given a URL when you create the site) and request membership. You then need to approve each request.
On this site, you and students can post information and texts that you wish to share. This is useful for posting homework assignments, for example. Each member also has a personal blog space where they can post their work, such as homework, journal posting, or essay drafts. You (as site manager) have access to what is posted, and students can also designate other members as "friends," who can also access posts.
Finally, you can set up groups on your Ning site that allow students to work together--ideal for peer-editing. You set up the groups, give the group a name, and then designate who will be a member of the group. Then the student members can post their drafts to this group (a separate section on the Ning), and other students can post comments on each post.
Ning Groups for peer sharing and peer editing
"Ning" is a company that provides easy-to-use social networks that allow for communications and sharing between members of any given community. They take seconds to set up, and require nearly no technological expertise to use.
To set up a Ning site, go to Ning.com. Setting up the site requires you to enter a few pieces of information (your name, your e-mail address, and a name for your site) and you're ready to go.
To add student members to the site, you will need their e-mail addresses. You can do this yourself or have the students go to the Ning (you'll be given a URL when you create the site) and request membership. You then need to approve each request.
On this site, you and students can post information and texts that you wish to share. This is useful for posting homework assignments, for example. Each member also has a personal blog space where they can post their work, such as homework, journal posting, or essay drafts. You (as site manager) have access to what is posted, and students can also designate other members as "friends," who can also access posts.
Finally, you can set up groups on your Ning site that allow students to work together--ideal for peer-editing. You set up the groups, give the group a name, and then designate who will be a member of the group. Then the student members can post their drafts to this group (a separate section on the Ning), and other students can post comments on each post.